Job action could mean run on liquor stores: BCGEU

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The BC Government and Service Employees’ Union has issued 72-hour strike notice.

They will begin job action Monday night at the Liquor Distribution Branch on East Broadway in Vancouver, which is the LDB head office. Pickets will be up on Tuesday at facilities in Kamloops and Victoria.

Veteran union negotiator David Vipond thinks the walkout will mean less selection on the shelves,

“I think there’s going to be a run on the liquor stores.  I think you’re going to see sales go up today and tomorrow.  It’s a long weekend to begin with, so it’s high volume.  But people will be a little unsettled or uncertain of what’s going to happen.”

He says the union has done net zero before, and they don’t want to do it again.

Other stores will remain open, customers shouldn’t notice any service disruption.

Union president Darryl Walker says his union is sending a message to the government over stalled contract talks.

“After six months of trying to negotiate a fair and reasonable collective agreement with the government of British Columbia, our frustration level has risen to the point where we need to do something more than just sit at a table and talk about issues,” he explains.

Walker adds the job action will last 24 hours, but he isn’t t giving any hints on what future actions they’ll take.

“We haven’t necessarily set that down as yet; we’re working through all of our options. While I can say with some certainty there will be others, I cannot necessarily say where, at this point,” he explains.

Take the deal: Finance minister

Finance Minister Kevin Falcon says the government’s wage increase offer to the BCGEU is a fair one.
    
“Taxpayers have been telling me, that they are not interested at all in seeing the province go deeper into debt, or raising taxes to pay for wage increases.”

Falcon says an offer of a  two percent wage hike this year will come off the table if the union doesn’t resume talks.

“The unionized workforce out there is to understand that the world we’re living in is not getting any better, in fact, the economy worldwide is worsening.”

Falcon warns the BCGEU that future offers won’t look as good.

Contract talks between the union and the government broke down last week.

Public reaction

One man found out in the store about the strike.

“Yeah, I’ll probably stop by after work now that I know.”
    
Aother woman picks up liquor for two elderly gentlemen and says a product shortage could be trouble.

“Definitely.  I have to come every day for these guys.”

Thanna was loading up an SUV with cases of beer for the Italian Cultural Centre.

“I know there are a few weddings comingn up in the next two weeks, so I would consider that’s not a good idea to go on strike.”

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